kay_pr

Any suggestions to buy metro tickets in París? Any similar options to the NYC metro card?

MaineGG

From the RATP site:

http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/r_61656/t-ticket/

The packet of 10 T+ tickets is called a "carnet", pronounced car-nay. These are 10 individual tickets that may be shared.

If you are staying in Paris longer you might be interested in the Navigo Découverte pass that is good for unlimited travel for a week, Monday-Sunday. If you need a pass good for a day's unlimited travel, the Mobilis pass might be good. Unfortunately, the RATP doesn't provide information in English about those passes. Here's the info in French:

http://www.ratp.fr/fr/ratp/c_21137/f...is-et-semaine/

http://www.ratp.fr/fr/ratp/c_21148/mobilis/

A Paris Visite pass is also offered for tourists. Most here believe it is not usually a good value.

PalenQ

Great advice as usual from MaineGG!

Yes and do not forget to KEEP your ticket until you are out of the system - you may need to put it in a machine to get out your final exit and machines when transferring - keep that canceled ticket - which is autmatically cancelled when entering until you are out.

and be careful in busy metro stations - keep nothing of value in a day pack - some folks even carry their packs in front in very crowded areas where folks may naturally squeeze up from behind in lines to get into the metro.

Christina

They don't really have anything like the NYC metro card where you just load $15 on a card or whatever. You get the discount for buying 10 tickets at a time, as noted. And there is a one-day pass for all transportation in Paris city limits (bus, metro, RER or tram) called a Mobilis pass. Actually, you can buy it for different zones but most tourists just want the cheapest one for inside city lmits (zones 1-2) That costs about 7 euro. I often buy that if I'm moving around town a lot in a day, it's nice to not have to worry about each ticket.

The Decouverte pass is a different story, it's a plastic ID that you need a photo for and is only good for a week (or month). And the week is strictly Mon to Monday, not 7 days from when you start. It costs 21 euro for zones 1-2 but if you don't intend to go to Paris a lot or that time period isn't best, it's probably not necessary. I dont' buy one when I'm there only a few days. You do have to pay 5 euro for the card the first time, also.

ssander

With the 1-week pass, my cutoff is four days...either Mon-Thu or Thu-Sun or any other four consecutive days -- which gives me four days unlimited travel in the chosen zones. (Like most visitors, I buy it for zones 1-2.)

Then we use a carnet or two for the extra days (pre- Monday or post-Sunday).

We use the buses a lot as well as the Metro, so it's worth it to us for four days. As they say, "You're mileage may vary..." If you only do 2 or 3 rides a day, carnets may be better for any four-day stretch...though there is something to be said for the convenience of the pass...hopping on and off without thinking about the cost.

Since a carnet comes to €1.40/ride, the €21 cost of the pass equates to 15 rides. There is, however, I believe, a €5 initial cost for the electronic card.

Another consideration...if you only buy carnets, you may find yourself with unused (wasted) tickets at the end of your visit...or having to buy a few extra tickets at €1.80.

This is all just nickel/dime stuff, however. I love the convenience of the pass.

Certainly, if you are going to be in Paris for a five-day stretch within a Mon-Sun period, the pass is probably best.

SS

RonZ

We buy our carnets at a tabac down the street from out hotel.

MaineGG

Good suggestion from RonZ. We always recharge our Navigo passes in a tabac. You can locate all the businesses in each arrondissement that are authorized to sell tickets, etc., by using the drop down menu here:

http://www.ratp.fr/informer/achat_ti...grees_ratp.php

For each business listed, closing day(s) are noted (fermeture - le dimanche (on Sundays)), and if you click on "Où est-ce?" (Where is it?), you will see the location on a map.

This comes in handy since many Métro stations no longer have ticket offices.

nytraveler

We just buy carnets, since we don;t usually how much we will metro vs walk or cab - and the tickets are good for any number of people.

PalenQ

Few folks take Paris buses but they run key routes and you can see Paris in between your destinations rather than traipsing down to a potentially very crowded metro and fight at times to get on the cars. Check out Parisian buses - carnet and metro tickets are valid for buses or metro or RER within the confines on central Paris.

DebitNM

Leftover carnet tickets just means that you'll have to make a return trip to Paris to use them up! If you do it right, you'll have ALWAYS have leftover tickets each trip

We have done it both ways. We find that we tend to walk way more than we ride, so lately, the carnet works best. And you don't have to buy a carnet for each person whereas you have to buy a Navigo for each person. With the carnet, you each just use a ticket per person for the ride so it's a total of 5 rides for 2 people per carnet.

Nikki

I have always just bought carnets as needed. The bottom line is that the price of public transportation in Paris is extremely reasonable, and the options do not end up making that much difference.

PalenQ

Like DebitNM - walking is very nice - many sights are a short walk from each other - like the Orsay, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, Pompidou Center, Tuleries, etc. You may take the metro much less than you think and IME what I see walking in between the main sights is often the most memorable parts of my trip!

Photobear

Is there an app that can help with routes? Say we are at Cimitière Père LaChaise and want to get back to our apartment in the 7th, is there an app that you can decide bus or metro and it will give you the way?

Nikki

The ratp page has routes: http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ra...herche-avancee

There is also an ratp app.

MaineGG

Not apps, but great online planning tools:

http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ra...herche-avancee

http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

The RATP has an app, but it seems to be just for the Métro.

Nikki

I have the ratp app, and it includes rail, bus, and tramway.

MaineGG

Nikki - Sorry for repeating the information you had just posted earlier. I was interrupted mid-reply and forgot to check the thread before submitting. And, you are so right. The newest version of the RATP app has all the modes.

blueslipper

Following

kerouac

The Navigo Découverte is the best option for unlimited travel as long as your presence fits at least 5 days of the week of its validity. Validity runs from Monday to Sunday and a "sliding" version has unfortunately not been invented yet.

menachem

the citymapper app (iOS) also has Paris now. Easier to use and you can store routes for off line use.